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CHICAGO – Six days following a heartbreaking overtime loss to Loyola, Chicago State men's basketball returned to the court on Saturday (Jan. 26) to face Great West Conference rival Utah Valley. If CSU head coach
Tracy Dildy had any doubts how his squad would respond, they were quickly erased in a 62-54 victory over Utah Valley in a contest that saw Chicago State lead by as many as 18 points.
“It's a great win for us when you talk about getting back-to-back (Great West Conference) wins,” Dildy said of his team's victory over two-time defending GWC champion and preseason pick Utah Valley.
Chicago State closed the first half on a 19-2 run. It put Chicago State up 35-25 at the break. Five different Cougars had points in the game changing stretch. The Wolverines could never claw back in it in the second half. Chicago State opened up an 18-point lead with seven minutes remaining before the Wolverines made the score closer in the final minutes.
“We have to get more mature where we finish it off for 40 minutes,” Dildy said. “I thought we played 35 minutes today so I guess we're getting close to 40 minutes.”
Eight Cougars scored four or more points in the contest. Junior
Matt Ross (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) (Dixon, Ill./Dixon/Sauk Valley CC) led Chicago State with 12 points. Junior
Nate Duhon (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) (Lansing, Mich./Sexton/Lansing CC) added 11 points. Junior
Jamere Dismukes (Park Forest, Ill./Rich East) (Park Forest, Ill./Rich East/BlackHawk College) scored 10 points and dished out seven assists while committing two turnovers. He also had four steals.
“When you talk about seven assists to two turnovers that's huge,” Dildy said of Dismukes' play.
Chicago State forced 17 turnovers while committing just 12. They used the edge to hold a 20-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
“We can only be successful if we're turning the other team over,” Dildy said. “17 turnovers is a great accomplishment off (Utah Valley).”
The Cougars are now 7-15 (2-1 GWC). The win snaps a four-game losing streak to Utah Valley and is Dildy's first victory over the Wolverines as Chicago State's head coach. Utah Valley falls to 7-15 (2-1 GWC).
Chicago State finishes their first go around in GWC play on Saturday (Feb. 2) with a road contest at Texas Pan American.
